However, opponents of Valorum's had planned to kill the former leader of the Republic. AnzatassassinSaljé Tasha was hired by the corrupt Senator Viento and Separatist acolyteSora Bulq to eliminate Valorum.[7] After the disgraced politician boarded the Star of Iskin,[4] Tasha killed Valorum and drank his "soup," per Anzati tradition, before sabotaging and escaping the freighter. As a result of Tasha's actions,[7] the Star of Iskinexploded shortly after takeoff. All aboard perished, and thousands more were killed when the freighter's wreckage fell back to Galactic City.[4]

Disgraced politician Finis Valorum was the true target in the Star of Iskin's destruction.

"In the days following the tragic and cowardly attack that claimed the life of this man, the news of our loss was overshadowed by the security policies that it spawned. But Finis Valorum would never have backed such extreme reactionary measures and would have seen them as affronts to the freedoms he held dear."

―Bail Organa, speaking at the dedication of the Finis Valorum Memorial[src]

The Star of Iskin's destruction was viewed as an act of terrorism,[4] and the attack was ultimately attributed to the Separatists.[8]Gran Senator Ask Aak cited the Republic's inability to prevent the freighter's destruction as proof that the Enhanced Security and Enforcement Act, a controversial piece of legislation that would grant Palpatine more authority at the expense of the Galactic Senate, was desperately needed. Despite Senator Organa's best efforts to block the bill, the Senate passed the act the day after the freighter exploded, giving the Chancellor greater wartime powers—that which Finis Valorum had fought against.[4] Additional policies, such as the Core Worlds Security Act, were also passed in the wake of the disaster.[6]

Immediately after the Star of Iskin's destruction, a memorial for the late Valorum was planned for the Chancellery Walkway in Coruscant's Jrade District, although, amidst security concerns, the memorial was not opened to the public until weeks later.[6]Jedi MasterQuinlan Vos later tracked down Tasha. Using his psychometricabilities, the KiffarJedi was able to witness the Anzat's memories of Valorum's murder and the Star of Iskin's destruction.[7] Organa became increasingly suspicious of Palpatine in the months following the Star of Iskin's destruction and, with Senator Mothma, began forming a political body opposed to the Chancellor's increasing influence.[5] By 19 BBY,[9] just prior to the Battle of Coruscant, Organa still viewed Valorum's assassination as one of many convenient incidences that had occurred during Palpatine's consolidation of power.[10]